Purpose

This report concerns revisions
to the Council’s Local Plan and planning policy work
programme (known as the Local Development Scheme).
 
There is a legal requirement to
have a Local Development Scheme. The current LDS needs to be
updated, to reflect changes in circumstances affecting Local Plan
progression.
 
This report sets out proposed
changes to the work programme for updating the adopted Local Plan,
and other Local Plan-related documents.

Decision

Cabinet agreed the proposals
for the revised Local Development Scheme.

Reasons for the decision

The
reasons for the recommendation are as follows:
 
· 
To provide a suitable basis for resource and budget
planning for the Plan-making process;
· 
To provide a clear Local Plan timetable for
officers, members, interested groups and individuals, and other
statutory bodies; and
· 
To meet the Council’s statutory duties under
section 15 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act
2004.

Alternative options considered

The
options for the LDS are as follows:
 
1. 
To agree the LDS for publication as recommended in
this report;
2. 
To agree amendments to the proposals recommended in
this report; or
3. 
To not agree a new LDS.
 
Option
1 is recommended - this responds to the statutory requirements, and
sets out a realistic timeline for establishing a strong
district-wide planning strategy. Option 2 allows for a potential
variation to the work programme, but this would need to be
justified by way of specific circumstances or evidence.
 
Option
3 is not recommended, because it would not meet the Council’s
statutory duties, nor provide a sound basis for moving forward the
preparation of a new Local Plan, and may render the Council open to
intervention by the Secretary of State.